This policy, hailed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as a "basic, common-sense change," is expected to save the average household approximately £530 annually on their energy bills, with some households potentially cutting their bills by up to 90% when combined with energy storage technology.
The goal of these new regulations is to significantly reduce household energy bills while also improving national energy security.
Under the new standards, rooftop solar PV systems will become standard: new homes must have solar panels installed, unless there is significant obstruction, such as from tall buildings or trees. Minor modifications are permitted within a reasonable scale, but a complete exemption is not possible.
In short: installing solar power technology has become a mandatory requirement for new homes.
- More importantly, solar power generation has been officially written into building regulations, becoming a basic requirement for home delivery.
- The policy also allows for flexibility: for sites with insufficient sunlight, such as those with excessive obstruction, developers can adjust the photovoltaic capacity while meeting a "reasonable scale," but they cannot completely eliminate it.
This means that even in heavily shaded areas, solar installation cannot be completely abandoned.
Based on current energy prices, an average household can save approximately £530 on electricity bills annually, totaling over £46,000 over the next 25 years.
In addition, the new regulations strongly promote low-carbon heating: green heating equipment such as heat pumps and heat grids, as well as electric vehicle charging stations and good home insulation systems, combined with solar panels to form a complete "power generation, storage, and consumption" system.
These measures not only save energy but also save an average household £1,342 on electricity bills annually, totaling over £46,000 over the next 25 years.
By 2029, the UK plans to build 1.5 million new homes that meet the new standards.
- The highlight of this reform is the mandatory installation of heat pumps, charging stations, and good insulation systems in new homes. These, combined with solar power, create a "solar-storage-charging" microgrid for homes.
- Such a system can provide a stable, green energy supply to homes, making it particularly suitable for densely populated urban areas and those requiring off-grid autonomy.
- According to data, the UK's total installed solar capacity will be approximately 20 GW by the end of 2024, and the government hopes to increase this to 70 GW by 2035.
According to this target, rooftop solar capacity will surge from 4.2 GW to 15.3 GW in the coming years, and demand for energy storage will also surge.
With the global adoption of home photovoltaic and energy storage systems, the safety of energy storage systems has become a key concern.
This year, explosions and fires in home energy storage systems occurred in the United States, Germany, and Guangdong, sparking concerns among both the industry and ordinary users.
Compared to lithium batteries, flow batteries, with their inherent safety, extremely long lifespan, and sustainability, are an ideal partner for the UK's new policy. Their aqueous electrolyte completely eliminates the risk of thermal runaway, eliminating the risk of fire or explosion. With a lifespan of over 25 years, it's perfectly compatible with the lifespan of both the PV system and the building.
The policy's stated goal of "saving over £46,000" is precisely due to the reliability of flow batteries.
Flow batteries can also be flexibly expanded based on household needs: simply replenishing the electrolyte can increase capacity and power without requiring a complete replacement.
With the increase in household electricity consumption and electric vehicles, expanding this system becomes simple and economical.
Furthermore, the electrolyte is recyclable, making it a low-carbon, green technology that aligns well with the UK's decarbonization goals.
Overall, the UK's policy, mandating that new homes be equipped with solar, heat pumps, and charging infrastructure, is driving a boom in the home energy storage market.
